Baker Mayfield’s Personality Won’t Be A Problem For Bucs

The Bucs signing quarterback Baker Mayfield to a 1-year, prove-it deal brought many headlines because of how the former Heisman Trophy winner is such a polarizing figure. Mayfield, the former No. 1 overall pick in Cleveland in 2018, has made waves over his career with what has been summed up to be a brash, in-your-face-type personality.

This first began when he was in college at Oklahoma where there was an incident over a pregame handshake against Kansas where he was snubbed. Mayfield was seen on the sidelines yelling profanities at the Jayhawks and making a gesture of grabbing his crotch and screaming even more at them. Oklahoma wound up trouncing Kansas, 41-3. Mayfield threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns in a statement game for the Sooners.

The video of Mayfield’s antics before and during the game can be found below:

Mayfield has also become well known for his many commercials, including Progressive insurance company, that are broadcast during college football and NFL games. Then there was his “I woke up this morning – I was feeling pretty dangerous” line following a game where the Browns defeated the Falcons in November during his rookie season. Most NFL players have egos, but some felt like Mayfield’s was a bit much.

It’s all fun and games when a team is winning. But that wasn’t the case for Mayfield the following season in 2019 when the Browns went 6-10. There was one moment in particular during the week after a loss to the Patriots where Mayfield wasn’t happy with a line of questioning and ended his press conference abruptly.

Baker Mayfield Could Be The Right Guy For The Bucs

While that wasn’t the best look, it was that same fiery attitude that helped Mayfield bounce back the next season and lead the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. All Mayfield wants to do is win, and sometimes early in his career, not everybody would take kindly to it.

Yet coming off a lackluster season in which Tampa Bay went 8-9 despite winning the NFC South division Mayfield might exactly be the guy that the Bucs are looking for.

“I enjoy playing this game and my personality might rub people the wrong way, but I am who I am,” Mayfield said during his introductory press conference in Tampa on Monday afternoon. “That’s how I was raised to be. I’m not trying to play to be your friend or to impress you – I’m doing it because I love it and I’m doing it because I love my teammates. I think all my teammates would say the same. Behind closed doors, they knew who I really am and that’s what really matters between my family and trusting that. It is what it is – I’m not too worried about the outside persona.”

There’s a fine line between confidence and cockiness. At times, Mayfield has toed that lone. It’s that attitude, though, that helped Mayfield earn many achievements throughout his career. If he didn’t play with a chip on his shoulder and with confidence, he may not have made it to the NFL.

Mayfield didn’t have many college teams recruiting him out of high school. Yet he went on to star at Oklahoma as a walk-on and the rest is history.

“To me, to be at the top of your game – whatever industry you’re in – you have to be wired internally to believe in yourself and sometimes trick yourself that nobody else believes in you,” Mayfield said. “Some of the greats – I enjoy looking at some of the greats in all sports and how they’ve prepared and that’s how you do it. You’ve got to believe in yourself. Unfortunately I was a late bloomer growing up, so I didn’t have a lot of recruiting coming out of high school, so that helped wire me a certain way to only have that self-confidence. I’ve carried that on since and that’s the infectious part about me that I try to have my other teammates feel as well.”

Now is that same attitude the reason why he wanted to play through a torn labrum, which caused a setback to his career? Maybe. But he’s healthy this year, and that’s a huge difference from the previous season. Perhaps a fully healthy Mayfield can regain his form once again.

“I’ll tell you what, it’s night and day different from this time right now to last year,” Mayfield said. “I was sitting at home doing rehab for my shoulder last year and not really knowing what was next. That’s why I’m really excited about being here and knowing where I’m going to be at, what I get to dive into, playbook wise, teammates and get to know everybody. I don’t know if words can really describe it correctly, but I’m excited. I’m excited for this next journey that my wife and I and our new puppy are going to be taking on. We’re ready for it.”

Bucs Still Have A QB Competition

The Bucs will have a quarterback competition on their hands this training camp. The fact that Mayfield is a veteran might give him the upper hand when it comes to competing against the inexperienced Kyle Trask, but that doesn’t mean it’s his job yet.

Would Mayfield cause a stir if he isn’t named the starter? He shot down that notion in his first Bucs presser. Mayfield has been on three teams in the last year playing in every role possible from starter to backup. He showed that he is a different person this time around than he was when first entering the league.

“Just take a look at last year,” Mayfield said. “I don’t really have much to say other than that. Everybody wants to talk about years ago, how I used to be. If you haven’t realized that I’ve changed a lot then that’s alright.

“It’s been different, but the thing I’ve realized the most in the last year is, ‘How can I help with what I’m best at?’ And that’s being a good leader, being infectious, energetic – and even when I’m not playing, helping guys out. I’ve played a lot of ball, so I’ve seen a decent amount so I can help people out from being behind the scenes like I did last year quite a bit. And just enjoying the process – this is a dream I’m living – why not enjoy it? Right now, I want to compete and I want to win.”

Mayfield then expressed what he’s learned about himself through it all.

“I’m definitely capable of withstanding a lot more than I thought,” Mayfield said. “And then just knowing that no matter what roll I’m in, I have a lot to offer. Like I said, last year when I wasn’t starting in Carolina, how can I make our team better? Because this is the greatest team sport on earth.

“How can I help out? How can I make sure everybody is on the same page? How can I make sure that I’m using my experience or being another voice for the quarterback or the coaches, where we might not be relaying it correctly? There’s so many things I can possibly do – even if I’m not playing – I’m excited to do that here.”

Baker Mayfield Describes Who He Really Is

So who is Baker Mayfield? What kind of person are the Bucs getting? He summed it up for everybody – he’s a leader who is loyal to his teammates.

“I’m a good leader, I care about all my teammates and people that are around me in my inner circle,” Mayfield said. I’ll take a bullet for you if I really know who you are and I trust you and I’ll do that, no matter what. I just love having fun, I do. I love playing this game, I enjoy it. I love the process about it, too. Success is success, but you have to go through the process and the work to enjoy it. I love that part about it. I like to grind.”